Traffic violations: Be bold to face court, Lagos taskforce tells residents

The Lagos state environmental and enforcement and special offences unit (taskforce) says motorists should not evade courts if they are arrested over traffic violations.

Shola Jejeloye, chairman of the Lagos taskforce, said this on Thursday during the auction of forfeited and abandoned vehicles at the taskforce yard on Thursday.

He said offenders should not bother visiting taskforce offices for resolution, adding that the power to impound vehicles resides with the courts.

“All these vehicles were arrested by the enforcement arm of the Lagos state environmental and enforcement and special offences unit. We have the mobile court,” he said.

“The determinative of all the enforcement done is not at the task force; it’s basically at the mobile court. The power to impound your vehicles resides with the mobile courts; they have the final say.

“Our own is to make sure that we carry out the enforcement. A traffic offence is not a criminal offence. When you commit a traffic offence, be bold to come to the office.

“Don’t look for anybody to talk to here. Where you’re expected to clear yourself is the court. You need to have the confidence to face magistrate, to tell them that there is a reason you committed such offence.”